Category Archives: dating sims

Heirs & Graces beta

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drama2
In the screenshot above, one of the various jealousy scenes

Well, last week I’ve told you that this would be the next game to come out, though I admit I didn’t expect to finish it so soon! 🙂 Obviously I’m talking about the beta version, however I think the official release should happen before the end of month.

Anyway, you can head to this page to try the game beta demo and pre-purchase it:
http://winterwolves.com/heirsandgraces.htm

There’s a beta demo download in forums in this thread: http://winterwolves.net/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3851

Like always, since it’s a beta version it might still contain bugs. However any help testing it will be greatly appreciated!

I really hope that even non-yaoi fans will try the game, since I believe it has a very nice art, GUI, music and writing. I’m also interested to know what people think of the scheduler/stat raising system. It’s a bit similar to Roommates, but it has also some “skill checks” to do, so you need to plan and think more what to do next.

Playing in Easy mode, you won’t have any problems though 😉

What’s Next?

While doing a beta, I usually try to go on with other games. Unless the beta is for a RPG, in that case I’m usually busy fixing bugs/adding features, so I have no time for anything else!

Anyway, while Heirs & Graces beta goes on, alongside it will finally decide what to do with PSCD and the extra romances. I’ll start first by adding all of them to the base game, and then if there’s enough time (and I’m not burned out too much!) I’ll also see if I can add some sort of “free play mode” or something like that. This way I could even add the extra cards who were planned for the DLC.

Once the PSCD DLC is finished, I’ll finally resume working on Queen Of Thieves. First I’ll take a small break though 🙂

Titles coming out in the next months

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IMG_0096
First, a picture of Nuvola half-asleep. That’s how I feel now too!

I have several games in the works, so I thought to make a summary/point of the situation of the titles that hopefully will be out in the next months (from May to end of year in practice).

Remember that I’ll need to take a break between each release, and I also still need to do the mobile versions of PSCD and C14 Dating. And of course, there could be some unexpected issues/real-life problems that will delay me.

Because of this, I really cannot say exactly when a game is out, unless I expliticly say it in the list below. The only thing I am 100% sure, it’s the order in which they’ll come out. Let’s see:

Heirs and Graces

dingirra

I have finished scripting the main plot events, Kamal events, and I’m at good point with the other 3 characters too (though not done yet).

If I can keep this pace, I think a beta demo by mid-May should definitely happen!

reimyrth2

One thing I love of this game are the various references to the Aravorn fantasy universe (as you can see in the screenshots above). Anyone who played Loren or SOTW will notice them, and I hope it will make people happy as I am 🙂

PSCD DLC/free update

After Heirs & Graces I’ll need to decide what to do with PSCD. As you know, doing another “story DLC” was too much work, so I gave up the idea. I wanted to just add the extra romances to the base game, since they’re all done. However it means I’d waste the 24-something new cards that are already designed… so I’m reconsidering the possibility to maybe add a “free play” mode or something like that, so they’re not wasted (but at same time, I don’t need to go crazy to balance the cards for the missions). For now I haven’t decided anything yet.

Anyway, I’ll probably make some experiments and then decide what to do.

Queen Of Thieves

It’s probably my most awaited title this year! I am missing only the last 4 CG images from the artist, and I need to code about 5-6 custom missions, plus the final fight. I think everything considered it’s about 1 month of work for me (artist said should have all done by end of May).

That means the beta should finally start this Summer! 🙂

Never Forget Me

In the next 2-3 months I should get the last CG images for this game, after that, I have all the text, music and images. However, I still need to figure out a small detail… the gameplay part!

The game is structured differently from all my other dating sims, since you don’t start as single, but you choose who you ended up with in the first game, and from there the story unfolds. But it’s not like you can pursue more than one character… at least, not one of the four main ones 😉

So I need to find a way to make a stat-raiser, or better some other gameplay. I could also just release it as a pure visual novel, but if I can find an idea, I’ll try that first.

Love Bites

The storyboarding stage is basically done, and while it’s in practice the latest game that started production, I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes out before end of year. The writer is very fast (and good) and she estimated that the story could be done before end of Summer.

Obviously, once the story is done there’s still to put everything together, and depends how much burned out I will be at that point. Considering all the other games that I should finish this year, I think you can’t blame me if I’ll take it a bit easier! 😉

Heirs & Graces update

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Time for an update on this game! Last week I got everything I needed: the last music tracks, the last character images, and chibis. We might add a few more chibis for each love interest, but that won’t matter at this point 🙂

Anyway, I was saying that I pretty much finished the scheduler design. You can see a screenshot below:

chibis

The screenshot is slightly outdated, indeed now there are 32 weeks of time, and there’s also a relationship tab next to the stats & skills, to check anytime your current relationship with the four dateable boys.

I designed the scheduler to minimize the grinding as much as possible. You still need to plan the week, but then once you click start the events will play (like Roommates for example) and the stats/relationship will increase accordingly, and the scenes will trigger.

skillcheck

Speaking of scenes, there are 15 main scenes + a final one. On each main plot scene (which will always play, no matter who you romance) there will be skill checks. If you pass them, you’ll gain Reputation points. At the end of the game, if you have at least 80 reputation, you’ll unlock special endings.

I have playtested it a lot, and in Normal mode is possible to win, though you need to plan the week carefully (and probably write down each skill check, since they always appear in same order). In Easy mode… will be hard to lose 😉

This system is fun because there’s still some strategy involved. Even if the outcome for each activity is randomized, the values are so close, and the number of events are so many, that if you lose, it won’t be because of the random factor. I played it several times and planning it correctly, I always won (you can gain Reputation also outside of those main plot checks).

After all this you might ask…

So, what’s left to do? Can we play it now!?!?

rebellious

Patience, my friends! The writer already scripted all the scenes, however I need to manually review all of them, adding some extra sound effects, music, GUI, etc. There are 16 main scenes (the last one is very long), and each boy has 10 scenes each, so 40 romance scenes in total. Plus, some very interesting jealousy scenes, 6 in total.

The total amount of scenes is: 16+6+40 = 62 scenes! I have already started “reviewing them”, but I was mostly busy with the gameplay mechanics. I think I should be able to do 4-5 scenes a day, maybe more if they’re “easy” (depends on where they take place, characters involved, etc so I can’t really know beforehand).

Which means it should take me between 15-20 days to finish this. Could be less or slightly more depending on the other things I must do. Anyway as you can see, the beta is very close 🙂 I’m curious to see how this will do, since it’s my first yaoi only game!

C14 Dating now out on Steam

I decided to release this game today, it was scheduled for next week but since it was ready… why wait? 🙂

You can get the game on Steam here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/451640/

As always if you bought the game directly you’ll be able to redeem the Steam keys for free here: http://www.bestanimegames.com/steam/

(please allow a couple of days since I just requested the keys from Steam and might take a bit before they approve them).

Love Bites – Introducing Sabrina

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intro_sabrina
If you follow me and my games, you probably know by now that I have a weak spot for strong female characters (Loren, Tanya, etc). So naturally Sabrina is one of my favorite of this game!

Sabrina Trejo
Age:  18

The first impression most people get when they meet Sabrina is a stubborn, contentious young woman, and they wouldn’t be wrong.  It isn’t that she aims to piss anyone off, but that seems to be how things work out.

Some think this behavior developed because Sabrina’s father remarried when she was quite young, but this is far from the truth.  Sabrina loves her step-mother as much as she does her birth mother, and adores her step-siblings, Kaitlyn and Brandon.

Others think her rebelliousness stems from a deep seated dislike of authority, as evidenced by her falling grades, and disruptiveness in the classroom.  Further examination reveals Sabrina was an average student until the age of 16.

What precipitated her change came one fateful night when she was supposed to spend time with her birth mother.  Sabrina arrived at her mother’s apartment, but found it was empty.  Letting herself in, she patiently waited…and that was the night her whole world changed.

Sabrina’s mother staggered into the apartment, bleeding from several wounds on her torso, and neck, clutching a broken sword.  Sabrina ran to give her mother assistance, only to stop when she heard a guttural growl from the doorway.  Looking up, she saw a pale figure with glowing red-eyes at the doorstep.

With a rush, the figure was upon her, its fangs seeking out her throat.  Desperately, Sabrina’s hand clutched the broken blade, and drew it across the creature’s throat, nearly beheading it in the process.  The figure staggered backward, and dropped to the ground, coalescing into dust as it died.

Thanks to her actions, Sabrina’s mother was saved…and inducted Sabrina into the Nightblades, an order of monster hunters with the sworn duty to safeguard the rest of humanity.

So it isn’t that Sabrina wished to miss graduation with people she grew up with, but it is hard to justify going to school and doing homework when monsters are looking to make you their next meal.  Needless to say, Sabrina’s outside interests have suffered, especially a budding painting career, or jamming with her friends.

Things wouldn’t be so bad if Sabrina didn’t feel so alone, but the Nightblades enforce a vow of secrecy among their members.  It is hard to keep a relationship going if a loved one thinks you’re having an affair when in reality you might be hunting zombies…a strain she saw first-hand when her parents separated.

Still, Sabrina perseveres since the efforts of people like her which help keep her family, and other innocents safe.

Update on the games in progress

heirsandgracesmainmenuI am currently working on Heirs & Graces, my first yaoi-only dating sim, and I’m at good point: the writing is all done, there are only a few pieces of art missing (chibis and some sprites). I am putting together the scheduler screen right now, and I think the game beta could begin next month or maybe if I’m particularly productive even end of this one!

At same time I’m also doing the last scripting/coding/testing for Queen Of Thieves. The robbery missions texts have been rewritten by Forsaken, who is also writing a series of new scenes for the main story, while the artist is doing a few more CG to illustrate it. They’ll involve Arianna, Raul, etc and I am eager to see the end result!

roof
The robbery scenes are varied and with random variations. In one house a vault could contain treasure, in another a monster, etc. Hopefully will provide enough fun for the players! In the scene above, the sisters will try to gain access to their next target passing through the roof. I don’t think this is going to end well… 😉

Even for this game the release date depends on several factors but I think a beta version should be out by end of May or mid-June. We’ll see, since I also need to take a small break between each game release, just to avoid getting crazy! 😀

Love Bites – Introducing Tyrone

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intro_tyrone

Time to introduce the second male love interest of Love Bites, Tyrone! I like his unique design, which makes him different from the other males of this game.

Now, let’s see what the writer has to say about him…

Tyrone Marshall
Age 19

Almost everyone on campus knows Tyrone for he is considered one of the best athletes the basketball team has ever had. What might be more surprising, however, is that Tyrone is also one of the top students trying to earn a business degree. Unlike many other athletes, Tyrone wants to take full advantage of his athletic scholarship since the odds are against any student making it into professional sports.

Despite his athletic prowess, Tyrone is a bit aloof, keeping himself at arm’s length from a serious relationship…which makes him that much more desirable to people who want to break through his tough outer shell.

This isn’t to say Tyrone is shy, but there is a reason he keeps himself apart…and that’s because he’s found himself in a bit of a predicament, one he doesn’t feel he can share with anyone else. Since entering college, every night of the full moon, a change overcomes him.

At first, Tyrone thought he was suffering strange dreams, one where he wasn’t human, but something else…he would have chalked this up to something he ate, but he almost always woke in the nude, clothes nowhere to be seen.

Figuring this was simply fatigue, Tyrone went about his day until he overheard fellow students talking about a phantom cat which started to frequent the campus…a feline which started to appear at the time of his dreams.

So, on the night of the next full moon, Tyrone set up a camera to record his actions during the night, though he felt a little foolish doing so. The next morning, he suffered the same dreams…and lack of clothing…as ever. When he played the camera, he was shocked to see that there was more to his dreams…that he changed into a lion.

Tyrone didn’t know what to do with this knowledge, and he went through the next few days in a daze. This might have continued when an older student tapped him on the shoulder, and asked him out to coffee.

Tyrone replied that while he was flattered by the attention, he wasn’t interested in a date…to which the woman chuckled. Introducing herself as Ashley, the woman said she wasn’t looking to get into a relationship, but just that if Tyrone didn’t stop his feline antics, he could get them all in trouble.

Tyrone realized this woman seemed to know what he was, and agreed to coffee…whereupon he saw he wasn’t the only person to go through such things. However, this knowledge isn’t all good since it also means there are malevolent forces in the shadows…shadows which aren’t afraid to strike back.

C14 Dating officially out!

This week I’ve also officially released C14 Dating! Below you can see the beautiful game trailer:

You can try the demo and purchase the game here: http://winterwolves.com/c14dating.htm

For those stuck or needing help, there’s a nice tip/walkthrough thread in my forums: http://www.winterwolves.net/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=3824

As always you’ll be able to redeem Steam codes for the game once it’s live there (probably end of April or May).